Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
solo posee carácter referencial
English translation:
is merely indicative
Added to glossary by
Charles Davis
Jul 16, 2011 04:36
12 yrs ago
5 viewers *
Spanish term
United States
Each translation a gem!
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English
carácter referencial
Spanish to English
Social Sciences
Economics
Estimates of earthquake damage - Peru
This is a footnote to a summary of results from a survey of businesses on their losses as a result of the 2007 earthquake in Peru.
La encuesta fue aplicada entre el 9 y 15 de abril de 2010, pero no se debe considerar como representativa, pues solo posee **carácter referencial**.
The main text starts earlier with the following introduction, but nowhere is there any discussion of the sampling technique used to select the businesses to be surveyed.
El efecto del sismo sobre las empresas privadas fue también importante: 25% de los empresarios sostuvo que los daños y problemas en los servicios de agua potable y saneamiento tuvieron un impacto mayor en sus negocios que el daño en otros servicios.
La encuesta fue aplicada entre el 9 y 15 de abril de 2010, pero no se debe considerar como representativa, pues solo posee **carácter referencial**.
The main text starts earlier with the following introduction, but nowhere is there any discussion of the sampling technique used to select the businesses to be surveyed.
El efecto del sismo sobre las empresas privadas fue también importante: 25% de los empresarios sostuvo que los daños y problemas en los servicios de agua potable y saneamiento tuvieron un impacto mayor en sus negocios que el daño en otros servicios.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +2 | (merely) indicative |
Charles Davis
|
| 4 +2 | (it is only for) reference (pupose) |
Michael Powers (PhD)
|
| 3 | (merely) representative |
DLyons
|
Change log
Jul 18, 2011 09:21: Charles Davis Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+2
14 hrs
Selected
(merely) indicative
To my mind this is the natural word to use: "indicative" as opposed to "representative".
I think "referencial" means that it constitutes a reference that can be adduced, a piece of evidence that can be referred to. In English, I don't think we would use "reference" in this way (let alone "referential"). "Indicative" means that it provides an indication.
One could say "is of a merely indicative nature", though I think "is merely indicative" would be sufficient.
A couple of examples of this usage:
"One should keep in mind that these inputs are not of a representative, but merely indicative nature."
http://www.kluwerlawonline.com/document.php?id=EELR2010003&m...
"But none of these ballot results are ever representative so should be seen as merely indicative."
http://www.social-europe.eu/2010/11/the-most-influential-lef...
I think "referencial" means that it constitutes a reference that can be adduced, a piece of evidence that can be referred to. In English, I don't think we would use "reference" in this way (let alone "referential"). "Indicative" means that it provides an indication.
One could say "is of a merely indicative nature", though I think "is merely indicative" would be sufficient.
A couple of examples of this usage:
"One should keep in mind that these inputs are not of a representative, but merely indicative nature."
http://www.kluwerlawonline.com/document.php?id=EELR2010003&m...
"But none of these ballot results are ever representative so should be seen as merely indicative."
http://www.social-europe.eu/2010/11/the-most-influential-lef...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
James A. Walsh
: Agree that "indicative" is probably a better option here, but also feel "reference" is a perfectly acceptable and common option. ".., and is for indicative purposes only." would do it for me.
2 hrs
|
|
OK, thanks James :)
|
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| agree |
DLyons
2 hrs
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|
Many thanks, DLyons :)
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks, Charles. This is what I used."
+2
4 mins
Michael Powers (PhD)
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
US Court Cert. 1980 Ph.D. 1981
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, English to Spanish, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
155
(it is only for) reference (pupose)
I believe this is how we woul usually word it - just / only for reference purposes or simply only for reference, not a statistical sampling.
Mike
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Note added at 21 mins (2011-07-16 04:57:18 GMT)
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Researchers do rely on references; however, it is used informally also, for example, when we say: "This is just for reference" meaning it is just to give an idea or example.
Mike
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Note added at 21 mins (2011-07-16 04:57:18 GMT)
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Researchers do rely on references; however, it is used informally also, for example, when we say: "This is just for reference" meaning it is just to give an idea or example.
Note from asker:
| Thanks, Mike. That's what I had, but then it didn't seem clear enough, because one usually *relies* on a reference, and the idea here seems a little looser, nothing you are supposed to count on. |
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
FVS (X)
: Agree with asker. If it's not representative it does NOT provide a reference. This is GdeD.
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Altogringo
: with Michael. Think the key idea is informal reference, to give an idea, not as a formal reference to be cited.
14 hrs
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|
Thank y ou, Alatogringo - Mike
|
|
| agree |
James A. Walsh
: ".., and is for reference purpose only"; absolutely nothing wrong with that! http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=&q="is for reference purpo...
16 hrs
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|
Thank you, James -- Mike
|
6 hrs
(merely) representative
They have apparently used data selected because it was typical/available rather than on a methodological basis.
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Note added at 17 hrs (2011-07-16 21:44:03 GMT)
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Yes, I'm probably trying to make "representativa" stronger than it should be. I think Charles' "indicative" is a much better idea.
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Note added at 17 hrs (2011-07-16 21:44:03 GMT)
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Yes, I'm probably trying to make "representativa" stronger than it should be. I think Charles' "indicative" is a much better idea.
Note from asker:
| But my text says: " no se debe considerar como **representativa** pues solo posee carácter referencial. |
Discussion